The Philadelphia Eagles have shifted into full-blown evaluation mode. So why not evaluate another member of the staff as the interim head coach?
With each passing loss, more and more members of the media and fans are pointing out that the time has come to fire Andy Reid. For two very good reasons, however, owner Jeffrey Lurie should ride it out.
First, is there anyone on the current staff who deserves a crack at coaching the team if Reid is relieved of his duties? The Eagles haven’t won a game since Todd Bowles became defensive coordinator. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg is tied too closely to Reid. That leaves special-teams coordinator Bobby April.
Second, and more importantly, the firing of Reid and the hiring of an on-staff interim replacement could provide the kick in the pants the players need. As we explained a few weeks back, current players tend to play hard for an interim head coach, not because they want to help the interim head coach get the job but because they know that, if the interim head coach gets the job, the players are more likely to keep their jobs.
Then, once the interim head coach becomes the permanent head coach, the players can go back to stinking.
So if Reid goes and someone else becomes the interim head coach and a fan base starved for wins finally gets a few of them, the interim head coach could start to look like a good candidate for the job. It would be better, then, to wait until the season ends, move on from Reid, and find a new coach from outside the organization.
That said, who is really going to want this job? The Eagles have no clear-cut quarterback, looming salary-cap problems, and an uncharacteristic number (for the Eagles) of aging players. Recent drafts have featured more misses than hits, and whoever takes the job will have to deal with RG3, Eli Manning, and the Cowboys twice per year.
If Chip Kelly or Jon Gruden have options, they could be inclined to opt for another opportunity.